JACKSON, MI – Sherry Brockie still is legally Blackman Township's treasurer and is entitled to her pay after the board rejected her resignation last week, according to information from the Michigan Townships Association.

The Blackman Township Board of Trustees rejected Brockie's resignation letter by a 3-2 vote during a special meeting Friday, March 21.

While a township board member who wishes to resign must submit a letter or statement of resignation to the board, it is up to the board to approve the resignation, said Catherine Mullhaupt, director of member information services for the Michigan Townships Association.

Mullhaupt spoke about the procedure for townships in general, not specifically Blackman Township.

When a resignation is rejected, “then that person still holds office, still is entitled to the salary of the office and they are still the official in every way, shape or form,” Mullhaupt said. “Once the board has voted, it’s a done deal.”

Elected officials also are not required to have set office hours, and there is no limit when it comes to increasing the salaries of elected officials, Mullhaupt said.

Jancek has since talked to Brockie, who returned to work Monday and reappointed her deputy.

Sherry Brockie has refused to talk to the Citizen Patriot. Bettie Brockie, Clingerman and Singer all declined to comment on why they did not accept Brockie’s resignation.

The board voted 4-2 for the raises on March 10, with proponents saying the officials work full-time and should be compensated that way. Sherry Brockie's salary went from $12,600 to $49,260; Sercombe's salary went from $12,600 to $49,260; and Jancek saw an increase from $24,000 to $49,260.

Sercombe and Jancek voted no on the raises, saying they knew the salary when elected and the raises weren't needed.

According to state law, the salary for officers on the board can be determined by the board in charter townships, such as Blackman. The township board can call a special election and submit the question of salary to voters if a signed petition is submitted within 30 days of the board’s salary vote.

A group of township residents is working to put a referendum on the August ballot to rescind the pay raises. The group, called Better Blackman on its Facebook page, has 30 days following the board's decision to collect 1,500 petition signatures for the referendum to be put on the ballot.